Monday, April 29, 2019

Rush frontman Geddy Lee has announced dates for a series in-store signing events in support of his latest project, “Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book Of Bass.”

The book celebrates the history of the instrument alongside Lee's personal collection of vintage electric bass guitars, which dates from the 1950s to the 1980s.

The two-week series will hit ten markets across the country when it starts in Victoria, BC on May 22.

One special stop along the way will be in Calgary where Lee will open "Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Bass" exhibition at Studio Bell at The National Music Centre (NMC), highlighting a selection of his rare and iconic bass guitars.

Following "Geddy Lee's Big Book Of Bass" exhibit at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland, Studio Bell is hosting the first Canadian exhibit of the artist's bass guitars, with 26 instruments curated by Lee himself.

Lee has spent years collecting hundreds of vintage bass guitars-a passion which became the inspiration for "Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book Of Bass". To celebrate the release of his new book, NMC is launching a feature exhibition at Studio Bell that will coincide with Lee's cross-Canada book tour. NMC will host an exclusive event with Geddy Lee that includes a special question-and-answer session followed by a book signing on May 25 with exhibit opening to the public on May 26.

"The instruments featured at Studio Bell are a combination of rare vintage basses from the Golden Age of guitar production as well as significant ones that I've used throughout my career; basses that I've scoured the world to get my hands on," says Lee. "This exhibition gives people a look into the origins and the earliest years of the instrument that help shape popular music… as well as the ones that I've lovingly held in my hands for over 40 years as I developed a sound that I could call my own. It's the largest display of basses from my personal collection ever and I'm excited to share this with my fans in Canada."

Visitors will get an up-close look at some of Lee's guitars from his four decades with Rush, as well as a selection of his historically significant and beautifully crafted collectors' items. Exhibition highlights include Lee's iconic Rickenbacker 4001, which appeared on numerous Rush recordings from the '70s and '80s, his signature 1972 Fender Jazz bass, heard on "Tom Sawyer" as well as many of Rush's more recent recordings; a 1952 Fender Precision bass: an early example of the world's first mass-produced electric bass; a 1961 Höfner "Cavern" bass, identical to Paul McCartney's signature instrument used during The Beatles' early days in Liverpool; rare and eccentric instruments from around the world, and many more.

"Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Bass" exhibit is accessible with paid admission to Studio Bell, and will run from May 26 to September 2. Studio Bell will be open seven days a week from May 20 until September 2 and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular admission to Studio Bell is $18 for adults, $14 for students/seniors, $11 for children (3-12 years of age), and free for children under 3 years of age.

Note: Geddy Lee will personalize and sign each "Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book Of Bass" at the book signings, but time will not permit signings of any Rush memorabilia.